Li Qianfan blocked Dai Paipai after she had provoked him.
However, he kept her contact information, as she was the secretary to Paipai's boss and he still had to go to work.
"I'm sorry, the user you have called is switched off. Please try again later."
Hearing this, Li Qianfan put down his phone. "Dad, are all the employees at the company now mocking her?"
"Mocking is an understatement."
Old Su was furious. "I just don't understand those people. They're eating from President Dai's bowl, but when she was threatened by Zhao Lianjin's despicable tactics, not only did no one support her, but they all gloated and kicked her while she was down."
In just a few days, Dai Paipai's prestige within the company had completely collapsed.
The two workshop directors who had initially supported her were also invited to a hotel by Zhao Lianjin at the end of work yesterday evening.
Now, only Old Su and Old Ma, two idle individuals in the same predicament, were desperately holding the last line of defense.
"I've already spoken with Old Ma," Old Su said, looking dejected. "If President Dai doesn't come to work tomorrow, we'll both resign."
Although Li Qianfan had assured him with absolute certainty that he could make him the top salesperson, what was the point of bringing in more business if Dai Paipai no longer came to the company?
"She will go to work today," Li Qianfan said. "I'll go to the hospital to find her later."
Central Hospital.
Dai Paipai sat by the hospital bed, looking at the sleeping Wang Mingshuai, her eyes devoid of any spark.
Creak.
The ward door opened.
Dai Paipai instinctively looked towards the door.
The next second—
She jolted, leaped from her chair, grabbed a cup from the cabinet, and stared at Zhao Lianjin, who was walking in, her voice trembling, "What… what are you doing here?"
"I'm here, of course, to see my good brother."
Zhao Lianjin closed the door behind him. "And while I'm at it, to check on my good brother's little sister-in-law."
Dai Paipai stood by the bed and said hoarsely, "Get out. Or I'll scream for help."
"As you wish."
Zhao Lianjin nonchalantly walked over and sat down heavily in the chair. "I'm here to seek justice for my best brother."
Dai Paipai stared intently at Zhao Lianjin's eyes, which began to redden. "Zhao Lianjin, what do you mean?"
"Because I suddenly remembered that on Mingshuai's birthday, you seemed to have put something in that bowl of longevity noodles."
Zhao Lianjin said seriously, "And besides me, Dongzi and a few others who were there to wish Mingshuai a happy birthday also saw it. We sat down together last night and recalled it carefully."
A jolt, like an electric shock, ran through Dai Paipai. Her delicate body trembled, and her face turned even paler.
"Paipai, while I'm touched that you've secretly loved me for so long, and that you poisoned Mingshuai to make him sleep forever so we could be together," Zhao Lianjin said with a straight face, "I cannot let personal feelings overshadow my brotherhood with Mingshuai! Nor can I allow you to disregard basic human morality and trample on sacred and inviolable laws."
"Zhao Lianjin, you are despicable."
Dai Paipai stumbled and sat down on the hospital bed.
Zhao Lianjin continued, "Paipai, think carefully. If you go to jail, who will take care of Mingshuai and manage the company for you?"
Dai Paipai's whole body trembled, unable to speak.
"Only I can shoulder these two responsibilities. Alas."
Zhao Lianjin sighed. "Who else but me, Mingshuai's best brother? But ultimately, I can't guard him day and night like you can. Neglected Mingshuai might find release sooner if he were to rest in peace."
Dai Paipai goes to jail—
Wang Mingshuai dies!
Dai Paipai understood the implication behind Zhao Lianjin's words.
But what of it?!
She closed her eyes in pain.
If she hadn't experienced it firsthand—
Even if she were beaten to death, Dai Paipai would never have believed that such a despicable and venomous person as Zhao Lianjin existed in the world!
Yet, she was powerless to seek justice for her husband or protect his wife and property.
She once had a backing that Zhao Lianjin feared.
But she had pushed him away with her own hands!
At the time, she believed she could solve any problem through the principles of justice (law) in the world.
And the result?
To avoid being bitten by a venomous snake, one had to use Li Qianfan's "barbaric" method and crush it!
"Dai Paipai, you are truly an imbecile," Dai Paipai cursed herself inwardly and opened her eyes.
Her hollow gaze met Zhao Lianjin's. "Tell me, what do you want me to do."
"Go to work today."
"When you go, you are not allowed to wear short skirts or high heels."
"After I get to the office, you can change."
Zhao Lianjin blew a smoke ring. "Everyone must know that you changed your outfit for me."
Dai Paipai replied blankly, "Okay. Anything else?"
"There's a meeting today," Zhao Lianjin said. "At the meeting, you will announce on the spot that, in view of my immense contributions to the company, you have decided to increase my 3% stake in the company to 93%."
Dai Paipai replied blankly, "Okay. Anything else?"
Zhao Lianjin replied, "In a month, marry me."
Dai Paipai replied blankly, "Okay. Anything else?"
Zhao Lianjin stated, "Whether before or after marriage, you will spend three nights a week with Young Master Du Tianci. With the Du family's support, I am confident that Paipai Fashion will become a brand."
Dai Paipai replied blankly, "Okay. Anything else?"
Zhao Lianjin said coldly, "From now on, if you dare to contact Li Qianfan again, you'll be rotting in prison, and Mingshuai will be laid to rest."
A smile tugged at Dai Paipai's lips. She whispered, "He… he doesn't want me anymore."
"Bitch!"
Zhao Lianjin cursed, then stood up and walked towards the door. "Dress up nicely. After all, I prefer the sexy, slutty Paipai, not the soulless woman you are now."
Zhao Lianjin left, striding out with a light step, his face full of pride and ambition.
Dai Paipai stood stunned for a long time before turning to look at her husband and slowly kneeling on the ground.
She clasped his hands and suddenly let out a hollow laugh. "Mingshuai, this is the 'good brother' you trusted unconditionally! Please, please, don't wake up. Because I've suddenly realized that the person I hate the most isn't Zhao Lianjin. It's you!"
She finished speaking and stood up.
She began to change her clothes.
Half an hour later, Dai Paipai, radiating intellectual charm once more, stepped out of the ward in flat-heeled sandals, her posture graceful.
Wang Mingshuai, lying on the hospital bed, remained peacefully asleep.
More than ten minutes after Dai Paipai left, the ward door was pushed open.
It was Li Qianfan.
Li Qianfan could have come much earlier.
However, Ziyu's wife had suddenly deigned to allow him to drive her to work every morning from now on.
Besides a profuse "kneeling thanks" for the great favor, what else could Li Qianfan do?
Li Qianfan had seen Wang Mingshuai the day he was poisoned.
This saved him the trouble of asking a nurse if this unfortunate fellow was the person he was looking for.
Dai Paipai was not present.
But the scent of Dai Paipai's favorite perfume lingered in the private ward.
Li Qianfan walked to the bedside and placed a few fingers on Wang Mingshuai's radial pulse.
Moments later, he let out a low sigh.
He was a divine doctor, true, but ultimately, he was not a god.
After Wang Mingshuai missed the best opportunity for treatment, let alone Li Qianfan, even his grandmother Yang Xiao, if she were present, couldn't wake him up.
He tucked in Wang Mingshuai's blanket and left the ward.
After inquiring at the nurses' station, Li Qianfan learned that Zhao Lianjin had been there.
Shortly after Zhao Lianjin left, Dai Paipai had also left with her small bag.
"Zhao Lianjin's visit this time was to ask President Paipai to return to work," Li Qianfan smiled.
A few minutes later, a Mini Cooper, adorned with a large couple's sticker on its door, sped towards Paipai Fashion.
Nine o'clock in the morning.
In the restaurant of Paipai Fashion, a gathering of distinguished guests—